How long did you hold your first "real" job?
 

After you entered the working world for good, and got your first "real" job, how long did you last at that specific employer? Did you plan to work there indefinitely, or did you view it as a "practice job" coming in?

I made it for almost five years at mine. I definitely viewed it as a career job when I went in, but after about three years I realized that I wasn't going to make it for another 30.

Navy. Six years. Longest I've ever worked for a single entity, but assuming I don't get fired in the next couple of weeks, I'll go over six years at my current job next month.

Ironically, I started at my current job on the same date I enlisted - April 3 (obviously different years).

Where's the, "I'm currently working in my first real job and I've been employed there X number of years." option?

I lasted at my first "real" job for 4.5 years, and then my second one went 6 years and 1 day. I'm about to hit 7 years at my current job.

In school, I worked on and off at the steak house for 5.5 years, but it wasn't a "real" job. They did discuss a possible manager position, which actually would've paid as much as my first "real" job and probably would've been easier.

Ooh. Good point. For the purposes of this poll, assume that you've just been fired.

6.5 years.

I'd have stayed longer but it went from dream job to nightmarish at the end. I have trouble being a 'company guy' now. I see myself as more of a mercenary - brought in for the skills I have to fix something or build something new. Once the heavy lifting is done I want to move on to the next project or company. I should just go back to contracting and stop pretending I'm an employee.

Oh. Well in that case, 13 years. Which line do I stand in to get some government cheese?

by real, do you mean a full-time permanent position (not including summer jobs)?

and does the military count?

other than the army and part-time and/or summer jobs, my first job lasted less than a year...

i hit the wrong choice on the poll, 6 months or less because i was thinking about my summer jobs...

It would be the first job where it was your main obligation on an everyday basis, so yes, the military could count.

ok, but the military wouldn't let me quit, or it would have been a lot less than 3 years...

7+ years and counting...

I never dreamed I'd be there this long. Once I started making enough to survive on my own (and after a few promotions), I figured I am pretty much stuck there for now.

Only a few months here, but I just started my first "real job".

Since you brought it up, I've had a pretty bad streak of closing places down. My first job was at the NKC Stephenson's, which closed... I left for Golden Corral on Barry Road, which closed... went to the Olive Garden & The Majestic Steakhouse from there. Neither has closed, but The Majestic Steakhouse wasn't in the greatest of shape when I left (but they've turned it around from what I've heard). Worked at Truman Steakhouse, which closed, and I've worked for Farmland, which was by far the biggest corporation I've brought to its knees.

Hallmark is dealing with a down industry, so who knows what the future will bring... :p

When I got my first "real" job, they told me upfront that they would like someone who will stick around a couple years, so I said I could do that. It has been two years now and I am looking elsewhere, not because I don't like working there, which I could probably do the rest of my life, but I'd like to learn more and have a lot more opportunity in the future. This current job basically has zero movement for the next 30 years and likewise, I will never get a raise. Just looking in jobs in or around kc in the last month has shown me I can make twice the money that I can in Manhattan.

I am at just over 3.5 years of my 4 year contract which I'm not extending...

I thought I would do my 20, but I just want something else now. I'm going to try to finish college and be a high school teacher.

Not brave enough to shoot yourself in the foot?

Less than 6 months, although it was in fact exactly 6 months from start to finish. The company was sold, and was informed about 4 months in that our project was cancelled, you're all gonna be laid off. At least I had plenty of time to find a new gig, which wasn't easy with all of 4 months "real world" experience.

Just under 5 years, with several miraculously timed raises and promotions that kept me from leaving earlier.

Then I took my knowledge and the connections I made from that job and started my own business in the same field.

10 years, 3 months. It was like trying to rid yourself of that first girlfriend. The sex was great, but I knew it could get better elsewhere. I just had to convince myself to make the jump

Since then, I've worked for 4 different companies, including self-employment, in the last 8+ years. I like the nomadic job style. Staying in one place for too long just doesn't do it for me any more.

I started my first real job in Kansa City working at a ROCKYARD. I still work there going on 8 years. GOD we have to put up with the stupidest people. This one man came in here just the other day pointing at a rock asking me how much it weighs. Geez, if I knew that then I wouldn't be selling rocks to idiots. I just told him something like 700 pounds knowing damn good and well it would probably weigh a hell of a lot more. And his hysterical wife was over in the car yelling it's too big, it's too big. I thought she was point at my penis or something. But any way I ruined his day before it was all over with so I'm happy. We dumped his marbles in his back yard and left laughing.

Oh, great. My wife just told me last night that she wants to buy some pigs for the back yard.

ROFL


I would not advise that on my worst enemy!

I was in the Army for 10 years 7 months and have been at my current job for 7 years and 7 months.

three years. it was more like one big party than a job.

I'm graduating in May...Is there anyone out there hiring?

I'm graduating in May...Is anyone out there hiring?

300 posts! Yes!

My first "real" job was in the entertainment dept. at Silver Dollar City. Worked there for about 11 years (1976 - 1986), but it was so much fun that I never really considered it a "real" job. Going on 13 years at my current job and it's not so much fun, but it's stable and pays the bills.

i bet you know my uncle richard. Played piano in the river rats.

I certainly do. Not only extremely talented, but also a very, very nice guy. The River Rats were GREAT...DA, Dennis, Marty, Bob and Richard.

cool. small world.

Yep. thanks for the memory.